Tombstone.



A. J. HARMAN.

TOMBSTONE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I918.

Patentd Dec.17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- INVENTOR Jushnfifarmam ATTORNEYS A. J. HARMAN.

TOMBSTONE.

APPLICATION HLEIZ JAN.30. 1918.

1,287,683. Patented Dec.17, 191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR AuJZinmrmaw.

AUSTIN J. HARAN, OF (DUSTER, OKLAHOMA.

TOMBSTONE.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 3918.

Application filed January 30, 191s. Serial No: 214,532.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that, I, AUSTIN J. Hammer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Custer, in the county of Custer and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and Improved Tombstone, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which generally relates to improvements in tomb stones, statues and the like, more particularly seeks to provide an improved construction of tomb stone having the general presentation of the human fi ure, the lower portion of which is especially designed to serve as a solid base or foundation, and the upper or body portion as a hollow receptacle having a trans parent chest opening, and a separable head portion, the said head and the upper or body portions being so arranged whereby the said body and the head may be formed in the resemblance of the buried body for which the tomb stone is to be provided or of some other historic human figure.

My invention also has for its object to provide a tomb stone or statue having the human shape, for example that of a soldier standing at attention, holding a gun with a flag or other emblem in the muzzle thereof. adapted to serve as a grave marker, and with the head portion removably mounted and supported upon the body in a manner for keeping rain from entering into the said hollow body.

Again, my invention seeks to provide an improved construction of grave marker or tomb stone consisting of an upright hollow body, preferably of the human shape, formed of any suitable material, for example galvanized iron, and a cement filler for the lower portion, whereby to produce a heavy base or foundation for holding the tomb stone or grave marker in the desired upright position.

In its more subordinate features, my invention includes certain details and combination of parts as set out in the following description, specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a tomb stone or statue embodying my invention.

. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof and illustrating a preferred construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2, the head member being shown as removed from the body.

Fig. i is a rear elevation of the body and the head portions.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section thereof on the line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of the front portion of the statue and the same illustrates the means for holding the picture over the front opening, when the statue body is of sheet metal, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the practical development of my improved tomb stone or statue, the same, in the preferred construction, has the shape of a human figure in an uprightposition and the same is formed of any suitable material,

when of the preferred shape shown in Figs. 1 to t, it is the nature of a hollow galvanized iron body which includes the lower or leg portions ll, the body 2, side mem- When of metal, as shown in- Figs. 1 and 6, the chest or front of the body 2 has an opening "20 with which co'riperates a closure member 7, the front face of which is shaped to-form a pocket for receiving a glass plate 8 and an indicating sheet 9, which may be the picture of the buried soldier or other person or of the deceased whose ashes may be contained in an urn deposited in the hollow body 2, as indicated in Fig. 2.

For conveniently mounting and holding the soldiers picture or other identification sheet at the said opening 20 and securing it water tight, the holder 7 may be formed with ringportions 7l'll having suitably spaced apertures for alining like apertures at the edges of the opening 20 in the chest or front portion of the body 2 for receiving bolts 11 secured by nuts 12, it'being understood that when the body is shaped up of metal, the neck opening in the said body extends sutficiently down and across the back, as at 21, to allow for readily fastening the picture holder in place.

The head member, when the body is of metal, as stated, in practice is molded,

stamped, or otherwise produced with the .as before explained and as particularly indicated in Figs. 1 and i, I do not limit myself to such special structure, as the entire body and the separate head may be of stone or cement. I

in either form, the head is as a separate member and, when of stone or cement, it is shaped to iit into the neck, as is clearly shown in 5 and, when thus formed, the picture or other identification member holder is placed the inside of the body over the front and secured by a cemerit seal a, see l5 6.

The head portion in. all of the different forms of my invention is provided with a pendent apron 35 shaped to fit over and entirely close the opening in the back and neck portions of the body.

When the body and the head are of sheet metal, the head may be secured to the body by solder or screws to make the desired rain tight closure the parts.

When the head is of stone or cement, the apron portion is secured water tight by a cement seal. v

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the complete construction, the manner of its use and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent. Y

W hat I claim is:

1. As a new article, a tomb stone or equivalent grave marking device having the contour of the human figure in an upright position, the device being solid below the waist memes line, the portion above the waist line comprising a hollow body, a head and a neck portion, the neck portion and the hollow body having telescopic communication, the hollow body having an opening in the front or chest portion and a picture holder arranged over said opening to close the same.

2. As a new article, a tomb stone or equivalent grave marking device having the contour of a human figure in an upright position, the lower portion of which is solid to form a foundation or base, the upper portion including a hollow bod and a head and head gear portion, the atterand' the hollow body having telescoping neck members, the said hollow body having an opening in the front or chest, a picture holder adapted for forming a closure for the opening, and means for fixedly securing the said holder on the inside of the hollow body, the neck and back portions of the body having an opening through which the picture holder and the hand that places the holder in position can be inserted, the head including an apron that forms an outer clo-ire for the said neck and back opening, and means for securing the head and its apron water tight on the body portion.

3. A tomb stone or equivalent grave marking device having the contour of the human body, formed of: sheet metal and cement filling in the lower portion thereof, whereby to make the lower portion as a solid body, the upper portion including a body having an opening in the front or chest, and a vertically extended neck, the latter and the back of the body having an opening, identification means holder insertible through the said neck and back opening that constitutes a closure forthe front opening, means for securing the said closure in place on the body, a head member having a neck adapted for telescopically engaging the neck on the body and an apron that closes over the opening in the neck and the back of the body, and means for securing the said .head and apron water tight on said body. 1

' AUSTEN J. HARE/IAN. 

